Children’s media has the power for transformation. In this course, students will gain knowledge and skills to responsibly access, evaluate, consume, and create messages in a networked world to empower themselves and others. Through evaluation of digital media and other public learning spaces, students will explore how meaning is made through social construction of categories of equity such as race, class, gender, region, identity, and sexuality. Students will also explore the ways in which the meaning and understanding of meanings associated with these categories either creates or mitigates inequities in society. With an application of design and learning theory, students will develop publicly available content that aims to reach the hearts and minds of youth for the power of social good and equity.

Students investigated the ways meaning is socially constructed in media messages created for children and youth, particularly around areas of race, class, gender, region, identity, and sexuality.  The honors students learned about social justice topics (diversity, equity, and inclusion), child development, graphic design, museum studies, communication and media studies. Students worked with Laura Dell and Sarah Schroeder from the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH) and Nancy Jennings from the School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences (A&S).  Student work was inspired by contemporary artists such as Baseera Khan who explore identity and justice in their work.  With an application of design and learning theory, students developed this research-based exhibit aiming to influence the narrative of equity in society through the hearts and minds of youth with UC’s Next Lives Here core values of inclusion, innovation, and impact. 

Contemprorary Arts Center